Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

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Warning: My first day with a GoPro and first try at editing. What you may see are many bad habits and beginner mistakes of a new creeker. That being said this is some good footage of Gulpha Creek today. A very fun and narrow creek right in town at Hot Springs. The gauge was at 4.2 feet and was probably near as low as you could paddle and still have fun.

Sweet Video man!!!

Hey Clay, it looks like fun and maybe next time I can join you. I live in Hot Springs too.

That was very good all around Clay!

Best Regards
Jim

Thanks!

Nice! Can't wait to get the gopro out there when the water is up. Crazy how much difference a few inches makes. Every time I drop through that slot I think about hitting that rock haha, glad you didn't freeze. Hopefully we will get the chance to paddle again soon.

-Mitch Allen

Exactly, where is the put-in and take-out. I did not recognize any of the area.
Thanks
Tim

The put in is on Ridgeway street. You turn west onto ridgeway off of Westinghouse. Then go about a mile and you will cross a bridge (Gulpha Creek). Pass the bridge and the first house on the left is where we park. The elderly lady that lives there is very nice. Just knock on the door and ask her about parking there. The take out is the old 270 club bar. If coming from lakeside school Malvern, go under 270 and then over the bridge. Right after crossing the bridge turn right and then left over the tracks. Park in the vacant lot to the south of the bar after asking permission. Again a very nice owner that doesn't mind at all. There are several tight slots with some strainers. One spot has a tree across it that we were able to slip under. At other levels, you could possibly pass over it or in between levels it might require portage. The next time it's flowing, I'll get in touch with you.

Nice video!

Now make me proud and tell me which one of you grabbed the blue ball (looks like litter to me!) and brought it out? The ball makes appearances at least twice, it was begging you guys to take it home!

And I guess this means I need to get my drysuit out of storage so I'll be ready the next time...

You lucky dogs!

You're not the first paddler to swim at that rock! Just for your info, you can wiggle down Gulpha at levels lower than that if you don't mind getting intimate with more rocks; it actually requires more skill at lower levels. Nice video! Show us more of the run! Show us the strainer in a video; I'll try to pinpoint where it is on a map.

As for maybe cutting out the strainer, years ago I got permission from several landowners to cut some fallen trees on the creek. One said okay; the other said "I'm not saying you can and I'm not saying you can't" for liability reasons. Basically he didn't mind me going in there and cutting the tree, just don't tell him. I also told him we'd pick up any trash we saw. BE SURE YOU DON'T WALK DOWN THE RAILROAD TRACKS FROM RIDGEWAY! The landowner on the east side of the creek WILL have you arrested for trespassing. He has been abused by people using the creek in the dry months. He might let you walk in if you need to go in from that direction if you talk to him politely.

Captain Aleve, alias Mike Coogan

Thanks for the information.
Tim